Many people tend to put off repairs that don’t affect the driveability of the car, especially when they’re not planning to re-sell the car any time soon. A scratched door or a dented bumper are unsightly but harmless. A chipped or cracked windshield also detracts from the appearance of your car; however, a damaged windshield poses a bigger safety risk to the car’s occupants than most people are aware of.
For one thing, a crack in a windshield can obscure your vision, either through blocking a portion of your view or reflecting light into your eyes. In addition, cracks and chips will collect dirt and grit from the road. Not only does an accumulation of dirt impair your vision, even more, but it also causes the cracks to widen and lengthen. In some states, police officers write tickets for cracked windshields.
Once a windshield has been chipped or cracked, it is highly vulnerable to further damage. A windshield is made of two pieces of glass glued to a sheet of vinyl resin in the center. The resin is what strengthens the glass and keeps it from shattering easily. Once the resin layer has been damaged, the glass no longer has the benefit of that protection. What this means is that in a car accident, the windshield could shatter or pop out on impact.
The windshield not only protects the front of the car. It also serves as structural support for the roof and the frame of the car. In recent years, the A-pillars, or side frames, in cars have gotten thinner, making the windshield a more significant feature in holding the car in shape. In a roll-over accident, for example, once the windshield is gone, the roof or sides of the car can more easily collapse. This puts the car’s occupants at serious risk of injury.
If you decide to get Auto Glass Repair Service Newport News VA, make sure to choose a company with a brick and mortar store. This type of business tends to be more reliable and professional than mobile-only services. One auto glass repair shop that has been in the business since 1978 is Bruce’s Super Body Shops.
